Explore the language and world of Shakespeare. Between theater (four shows at the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company), lectures with eminent scholars, exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and museum visits, you will have time to explore Shakespeare's family homes and enjoy the shops and streets that make Stratford-upon-Avon a unique destination. Click here for more information.

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Teenager from Hawaii wins ESU National Shakespeare Competition

National News

(l to r - Third place winner, Elizabeth Mears, winner Sarah Spalding and Second place winner Evelyn Johnson)

New York City, April 27, 2015 -- With a performance of a sonnet and monologue from Shakespeare, Sarah Spalding, a student of John Watt at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu, won first prize at the 32nd annual English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition. The Competition was held on April 27th at Lincoln Center Theater in New York City for 57 winners of ESU Branch competitions nationwide. Sarah had previously won the ESU Hawaii Branch regional competition. Her prize for placing first is a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art's Young Actors Summer School in London, England.

The runner up of the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, Evelyn Johnson, representing the Philadelphia Branch of the ESU, won a full scholarship to the American Shakespeare Center's Theatre Camp in Staunton, Virginia. Third place winner, Elizabeth Mears, representing the Boston Branch of the ESU, won $500 from The Shakespeare Society.

On April 18, 2015, the English-Speaking Union, along with its partner the Middle School Public Debate Program, welcomed 282 students from 31 schools in six states to the Hackley School in Tarryton, NY. These students participated in 236 rounds of debate. Teams from the Hackley School and Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon, VA advanced to the Final Championship Debate where they sparred over the topic: The US should pay ransom for hostages.

The Championship Tournament was the culmination of a year-long initiative sponsored by the English Speaking Union in New York and New Jersey, and is part of the national Middle School Public Debate Program. Attending the tournament were public, charter and independent schools from inter-scholastic Leagues in New York City, Monmouth County, NJ, Washington, DC and New Orleans. Over 100 teachers and parents joined the students on April 18th to serve as volunteer judges.

The 2015 English-Speaking Union Founder’s Award

National News

The Hon. Edwina Sandys MBE and Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill MBE were presented the English-Speaking Union Founder's Award on April 27 for their roles in helping to launch the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition 32 years ago. Immediately following the 2015 ESU National Shakespeare Competition at Lincoln Center Theater, the awards were presented at a festive reception and dinner in the Crystal Room of the Empire Hotel.

Danny Lopez, Her Majesty's Consul General in New York, served as Honorary Chairman of the event committee. Unable to attend in person, he was represented by Nick Astbury, Deputy Consul-General and Deputy Head of Mission.

Representative chosen to compete in the International Public Speaking Competition in London

National News

First Place Winner: Chaya Sara Oppenheim, a junior at Manhattan High School for Girls in New York City, will travel to London this May to represent the United States in the 2015 ESU International Public Speaking Competition.

The ESU International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) brings together the most talented young speakers from across the globe for a week of oratorical workshops, competition and international cultural exchange. Her speech at the National Level, titled, "Colorblindness vs. the Mosaic of Diversity", addressed the ESU's theme, "To Be Ignorant of the Past is to Remain a Child". At the International Level, Chaya Sara will speak on the topic, "Culture is Not a Luxury, But a Necessity".

Allyson Carpenter, a Political Science Major/Community Development Minor, and Laura Campbell, a Biology Major/Chemistry Minor, both at Howard University in Washington, D.C., have been selected as this year's recipients of the English–Speaking Union (ESU) Luard Morse Scholarship. The scholarship provides $25,000 towards a semester of study at an English university during the 2015-16 academic year.